A/N: Sorry again for the long wait. I lost my copy of this story, so I've had to figure out where I was, and I've been set back quite a bit. I've also been on vacation with my grandparents. I'm back for a couple days, though before going off again, so I'll do my best.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter--only this story.

Chapter 4

Hermione woke up the next morning with images of last night fresh in her mind, Ron's look of betrayal permeating through all her thoughts. She had stayed in the library for about an hour, trying to continue with her work, but found her eyes loosing focus, and her mind otherwise occupied. She knew that she had done the right thing in turning Ron away, but she still felt bad about hurting him so much, she still wanted his friendship after all. Hermione finally pulled herself out of bed and got changed, glancing quickly at the mirror before descending the stairs to the common room.

The sight before her eyes as she reached the bottom of the staircase, however, was enough to make her back up—quickly. There on the couch was Ron, his lips glued to a girl she couldn't recognize in that positions, as Ron's body was pressed into hers, with his hand up her shirt. Just as she turned to flee back to the safety of her bed, she heard her name, called softly across the common room. She turned to see Harry standing there, a wry smile on his face. She walked over to where he stood, and they walked out of the common room together, heading towards the Great Hall.

"So," he said, turning his eyes to her, "I assume you ended it last night?" Hermione merely nodded. "I'm glad," he said softly with a smile. Hermione's head jerked up to meet his gaze quickly, a questioning look in her eyes. "I mean I know how much you wanted to, and I would hope he wouldn't act like that while you were still together…at least he has some morals if not self-decency," Harry laughed slightly as he said it. Hermione merely looked back down at the ground as they reached the Great Hall, and sat down at the Gryffindor table for breakfast.

After a moment Harry looked over at her, "I thought you would have been happy Hermione—but you look really quite glum."

"I am happy," Hermione insisted quietly.

"Sure," Harry replied sarcastically. "That would totally explain why that's the first word you've said to me this morning, and even that was said in a whisper."

Hermione sat there quietly before turning to Harry and saying, "I did that to him Harry. He was happy before, but now…" she trailed off.

"Hermione, we both know that you acted for the best. He may not yet have realized it, but things would not have worked out between you two. Ron's got a crush on you, but he doesn't love you. You wish he could be your friend, but can't think of him that way. Right?" he asked her, urging her to see sense.

"B-B-But…" Harry cut her off with a finger on her lips.

"Don't blame yourself for the way he's acting now. If anything, you should realize how lucky you are not to still be with a guy who acts like that," Harry watched Hermione's expression, and pulled his finger from her lips. Hermione looked a little happier, but they still didn't talk through all of breakfast.

They went to class, Transfiguration, and sat down in the front of the room. Ron sat down in the back, and no words were exchanged.

By the end of the day, Harry and Hermione sat in the common room in front of the fire, talking about the day's classes, and doing their homework for the next day. "Hermione," asked Harry finishing the sentence with a swish of the quill, "can you check over this for me? It's still not long enough."

Over the next few weeks, Harry and Hermione spent most of their days together. Hermione would help Harry with homework, and Harry started to really put effort into school. In Potions, he made a perfect potion which, though Professor Snape sneered at it, was too good not to receive at least almost full credit, and in Charms, he was the second to complete the assigned task (Hermione, of course, was first).

Much to Hermione's chagrin, she found that several boys of their year, actually wanted to go out with her now. She had never receive such attention from boys, and wasn't sure that she really wanted it, though of course she was flattered. She turned them all down, of course. She didn't want to be stuck in another relationship where she didn't share the same feelings. She figured she would just wait for a while.

Harry too was taken a back slightly by all the boys showing interest in Hermione. They never had before, though she had sure matured well. He was startled, however, that she didn't accept any of them—not the good looking ones or even the smart ones. He knew that many of them would have been good fits for her. She told him about all of them, for the two were best friends—never closer.

A/N: Short chapters, I know. But I think it sort of fits the story type. Thanks for reading and please R&R!